Joel Sobelson

Artist Statement

HERE'S MY STORY...

I went to college with the idea of becoming a dentist. But failing organic chemistry class three times signaled that maybe a career in dentistry was not my destiny. Instead, I found himself following my interests in drawing and being the best hippie he could be, and so I ended up at Pratt Institute.
During a summer internship, while working for a renowned New York City photographer, I found I was attracted to the world of advertising. I created a portfolio of ads and was immediately hired at one of the top advertising firms in the world. So began my 35-year, award winning advertising career. One, not with my hands in people’s mouths but messing with people’s heads.

As a retiree, I found sitting on the couch, eating oreos and watching old movies not really working. But that boredom forced me to re-discover my love of drawing, one that I have been pursuing ever since.

As a storyteller I recognize we all experience private moments when we find ourselves overcome by our hearts. My work strives to capture the emotional authenticity of these moments.